Mark 3:31
New International Version
Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him.

New Living Translation
Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him. They stood outside and sent word for him to come out and talk with them.

English Standard Version
And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him.

Berean Standard Bible
Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came and stood outside. They sent someone in to summon Him,

Berean Literal Bible
And His mother and His brothers arrive, and standing outside, sent to Him, calling Him.

King James Bible
There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.

New King James Version
Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him.

New American Standard Bible
Then His mother and His brothers came, and while standing outside they sent word to Him, calling for Him.

NASB 1995
Then His mother and His brothers arrived, and standing outside they sent word to Him and called Him.

NASB 1977
And His mother and His brothers arrived, and standing outside they sent word to Him, and called Him.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then His mother and His brothers arrived, and standing outside they sent word to Him, calling Him.

Amplified Bible
Then His mother and His brothers arrived, and standing outside they sent word to Him and called for Him.

Christian Standard Bible
His mother and his brothers came, and standing outside, they sent word to him and called him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then His mother and His brothers came, and standing outside, they sent word to Him and called Him.

American Standard Version
And there come his mother and his brethren; and, standing without, they sent unto him, calling him.

Contemporary English Version
Jesus' mother and brothers came and stood outside. Then they sent someone with a message for him to come out to them.

English Revised Version
And there come his mother and his brethren; and, standing without, they sent unto him, calling him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then his mother and his brothers arrived. They stood outside and sent someone to ask him to come out.

Good News Translation
Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. They stood outside the house and sent in a message, asking for him.

International Standard Version
Then his mother and his brothers arrived. Milling around outside, they sent for him, continuously summoning him.

Majority Standard Bible
Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came and stood outside. They sent someone in to summon Him,

NET Bible
Then Jesus' mother and his brothers came. Standing outside, they sent word to him, to summon him.

New Heart English Bible
And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside, they sent to him, calling him.

Webster's Bible Translation
There came then his brethren and his mother, and standing without, they sent to him, calling him.

Weymouth New Testament
By this time His mother and His brothers arrive, and standing outside they send a message to Him to call Him.

World English Bible
His mother and his brothers came, and standing outside, they sent to him, calling him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Then His brothers and mother come, and standing outside, they sent to Him, calling Him,

Berean Literal Bible
And His mother and His brothers arrive, and standing outside, sent to Him, calling Him.

Young's Literal Translation
Then come do his brethren and mother, and standing without, they sent unto him, calling him,

Smith's Literal Translation
Then came his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, they sent to him, calling him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And his mother and his bretheren came; and standing without, sent unto him, calling him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And his mother and brothers arrived. And standing outside, they sent to him, calling him.

New American Bible
His mother and his brothers arrived. Standing outside they sent word to him and called him.

New Revised Standard Version
Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then there came his mother and his brothers, and stood outside, and they sent in to call him.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And his mother and his brothers came, standing outside, and they sent that they might call him to them.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
His mother and his brothers came, therefore, and standing without, sent to him, and called him.

Godbey New Testament
And His mother and His brothers come; and standing without, sent to Him, calling Him.

Haweis New Testament
Then came his brethren and his mother, and standing without sent unto him, calling aloud for him.

Mace New Testament
In the mean time his brothers and his mother came there, and not being able to get within hearing,

Weymouth New Testament
By this time His mother and His brothers arrive, and standing outside they send a message to Him to call Him.

Worrell New Testament
And His mother and His brothers come; and, standing without, they sent to Him, calling Him.

Worsley New Testament
So his brethren and his mother came, and standing without sent to Him to call Him to them:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jesus' Mother and Brothers
30Jesus made this statement because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” 31Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came and stood outside. They sent someone in to summon Him, 32and a crowd was sitting around Him. “Look,” He was told, “Your mother and brothers are outside, asking for You.”…

Cross References
Matthew 12:46-50
While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to Him. / Someone told Him, “Look, Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to You.” / But Jesus replied, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?” ...

Luke 8:19-21
Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see Him, but they were unable to reach Him because of the crowd. / He was told, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see You.” / But He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and carry it out.”

John 7:3-5
So Jesus’ brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go to Judea, so that Your disciples there may see the works You are doing. / For no one who wants to be known publicly acts in secret. Since You are doing these things, show Yourself to the world.” / For even His own brothers did not believe in Him.

Matthew 13:55-56
“Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? / Aren’t all His sisters with us as well? Where then did this man get all these things?”

Acts 1:14
With one accord they all continued in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

John 2:12
After this, He went down to Capernaum with His mother and brothers and His disciples, and they stayed there a few days.

John 19:25-27
Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother and her sister, as well as Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene. / When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son.” / Then He said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” So from that hour, this disciple took her into his home.

Galatians 1:19
But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.

James 1:1
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes of the Dispersion: Greetings.

1 Corinthians 9:5
Have we no right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?

Psalm 69:8
I have become a stranger to my brothers and a foreigner to my mother’s sons,

Deuteronomy 33:9
He said of his father and mother, ‘I do not consider them.’ He disregarded his brothers and did not know his own sons, for he kept Your word and maintained Your covenant.

Micah 7:6
For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies are the members of his own household.

Genesis 37:4
When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

Genesis 37:11
And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept in mind what he had said.


Treasury of Scripture

There came then his brothers and his mother, and, standing without, sent to him, calling him.

Matthew 12:46-48
While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him…

Luke 8:19-21
Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press…

Jump to Previous
Arrive Arrived Jesus Message Mother Outside Requesting Someone Standing Time Word
Jump to Next
Arrive Arrived Jesus Message Mother Outside Requesting Someone Standing Time Word
Mark 3
1. Jesus heals the withered hand,
10. and many other infirmities;
11. rebukes the unclean spirit;
13. chooses his twelve apostles;
22. convinces the blasphemy of casting out demons by Beelzebub;
31. and shows who are his brother, sister, and mother.














Then
The word "then" serves as a transitional term, indicating a sequence of events. In the context of Mark's Gospel, it connects the preceding narrative with the current scene. This word suggests a continuation of the unfolding account of Jesus' ministry, emphasizing the immediacy and urgency of the events. It reminds us of the dynamic and active nature of Jesus' mission on earth.

Jesus’ mother and brothers
This phrase highlights the familial relationship of Jesus, grounding His divine mission in a human context. The mention of His mother, Mary, and His brothers, possibly including James, Joses, Judas, and Simon, as noted in other Gospel accounts, underscores the reality of Jesus' incarnation. It reflects the tension between His earthly family and His divine calling, a theme that resonates throughout the Gospels. The presence of His family here may also symbolize the broader Jewish community's struggle to understand Jesus' true identity and mission.

came and stood outside
The action of coming and standing outside signifies both physical and metaphorical distance. Physically, it indicates their position outside the house where Jesus was teaching, unable to reach Him directly due to the crowd. Metaphorically, it suggests a spiritual or relational distance, as they are not yet fully aligned with His mission. This imagery invites reflection on the barriers that can exist between us and Christ, whether due to misunderstanding, doubt, or societal pressures.

They sent someone in
This phrase reveals the determination of Jesus' family to reach Him, despite the obstacles. It also illustrates the common practice of sending a messenger to convey a request or message, a cultural norm in ancient times. This act of sending someone in can be seen as an attempt to bridge the gap between the outside and the inside, the familial and the divine. It challenges us to consider how we approach Jesus in our own lives, whether directly or through intermediaries like prayer and community.

to summon Him
The word "summon" implies a call to action or presence, often carrying a sense of authority or urgency. In this context, it reflects the family's desire to speak with Jesus, possibly out of concern or misunderstanding of His ministry. This summons can be seen as a pivotal moment, highlighting the tension between Jesus' earthly ties and His heavenly mission. It invites us to reflect on the nature of our own summons to Christ, whether we approach Him with demands, questions, or a willingness to listen and follow.

(31-35) There came then his brethren and his mother.--See Notes on Matthew 12:46-50.

Verses 31-33. - Our Lord's brethren and his mother had now arrived (see ver. 21) to look after him. He was in the house teaching; but the crowd was so great that they could not approach him. The multitude filled not only the room, but the courtyard and all the approaches. St. Luke (Lujke 8:19) says," they could not come at him for the crowd." His brethren here spoken of were in all probability his cousins, the sons of Mary, the wife of Alphaeus or Clopas. But two of these, already chosen to be apostles, were most likely with him in the room, and of the number of those towards whom he stretched out his hand and said, "Behold, my mother and my brethren!" whilst Mary and the others had come (Mary, perhaps, induced by the others in the hope that the sight of his mother might the more move him) for the purpose of bringing him back to the quiet of Nazareth. We cannot suppose that the Virgin Mary came with any other feeling than that of a mother's anxiety in behalf of her Son. She may have thought that he was in danger, exposed to the fickle temper of a large multitude, who might at any moment have their passions stirred against him by his enemies, the scribes and Pharisees; and so she was willingly persuaded to come and use her influence with him to induce him to escape from what appeared evidently to be a position of some danger. If so, this explains our Lord's behavior on this occasion. The multitude was sitting about him, and he was teaching them; and then a message was brought to him from his mother and his brethren who were without, perhaps in the courtyard, perhaps beyond in the open street, calling for him. The interruption was untimely, not to say unseemly. And so he says, not without a little tone of severity in his words, Who is my mother and my brethren? Our Lord did not speak thus as denying his human relationship; as though he was not "very man," but a mere "phantom," as some early heretics taught; and still less as though he was ashamed of his earthly lationships; but partly perhaps because the messengers too boldly and inconsiderately interrupted him while he was teaching; and chiefly that he might show that his heavenly Father's business was more to him than the affection of his earthly mother, greatly as he valued it; and thus he preferred the spiritual relationship, in which there is neither male nor female, bond nor free, but all stand alike to Christ in the relationship of brother, sister, and mother. It is remarkable, and yet the reason for the omission is obvious, that our Lord does not mention" father" in this spiritual category.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Then
Καὶ (Kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

[Jesus’]
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

mother
μήτηρ (mētēr)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3384: A mother. Apparently a primary word; a 'mother'.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

brothers
ἀδελφοὶ (adelphoi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 80: A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.

came
ἔρχονται (erchontai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2064: To come, go.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

stood
στήκοντες (stēkontes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4739: To stand fast, stand firm, persevere. From the perfect tense of histemi; to be stationary, i.e. to persevere.

outside.
ἔξω (exō)
Adverb
Strong's 1854: Without, outside. Adverb from ek; out(-side, of doors), literally or figuratively.

They sent [someone] in
ἀπέστειλαν (apesteilan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 649: From apo and stello; set apart, i.e. to send out literally or figuratively.

to
πρὸς (pros)
Preposition
Strong's 4314: To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.

summon
καλοῦντες (kalountes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2564: (a) I call, summon, invite, (b) I call, name. Akin to the base of keleuo; to 'call'.

Him,
αὐτόν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.


Links
Mark 3:31 NIV
Mark 3:31 NLT
Mark 3:31 ESV
Mark 3:31 NASB
Mark 3:31 KJV

Mark 3:31 BibleApps.com
Mark 3:31 Biblia Paralela
Mark 3:31 Chinese Bible
Mark 3:31 French Bible
Mark 3:31 Catholic Bible

NT Gospels: Mark 3:31 His mother and his brothers came (Mar Mk Mr)
Mark 3:30
Top of Page
Top of Page